New Library Service Initiatives

To better serve our students and faculty, the Library has continued to plan and work proactively. The Library’s new and expanded initiatives provide direction and focus to our activities in times of competing needs. The following are highlights of just some of these initiatives.

To Complete the Library Building Extension by April 2011

The new extension provides a variety of spaces, facilities and services to support teaching, learning and research and to support a much larger library user population in 2012 and after.

In addition to a large multi-purpose room, the Library extension will comprise many individual and group study spaces, as well as media resources and facilities, including well-planned media viewing rooms. The overall goal in this environment is to enhance interactive experiences and to facilitate various study activities.

To Create the Learning Commons by Fall 2011

Recognizing that the Library is a central gathering place for students to study, write, research, and learn, we provide in the new Learning Commons (LC) many different learning and collaboration spaces, with flexible use possibilities and service support. Services will be provided by the Library and other academic support units, i.e. CELT, ITSC, LANG, PTC, SAO.

The LC facility will be managed by the Library drawing on the experiences of the existing Information Commons. Depending on the level of student need and operational support, the LC will be capable of 24-hour operation, with late-night isolation from the main Library floors.

To Enhance Library Collections in Support of 334, General Education and Curriculum Changes

The Library is actively seeking additional financial support from the University to enhance its collection resources, i.e. books, journals, databases and media resources. Many of the new resources acquired in the coming years will directly support general education, and expanded programs in new Humanities and Social Science.

New resources, once acquired, will be made available to our users as soon as practicable. User training will also be provided through library workshops.

To Expand Information Literacy Instruction and Assessment for the 4-year Program

Information Literacy (IL) is vital for students’ success in academic study, workplace and lifelong learning and development. Expanding the IL instruction and assessment program is essential for achieving both the education and the research objectives of the University’s Strategic Plan.

Among other activities, we will collaborate with the Language Center to enhance UGs’ basic IL skills through a regular program, and expand our collaboration with schools, departments and individual faculty members to offer school, program and course embedded IL classes/workshops. We will continue to develop rubrics and assess the IL learning outcomes within the library and collaboratively with other units and departments. In addition, we will implement the James Madison IL Assessment Test with a sample of about 300 UGs in Fall 2011 and in future years.

To Expand Quality Assurance and Improvement Activities

In recent years, HKUST library has conducted a good number of user surveys, focus groups, forums and usability studies. These provided information for analysis and actions. One of these surveys was the LibQual survey instrument which is widely adopted by academic libraries worldwide. In 2007, HKUST Library conducted the survey along with other UGC-funded institutions. The results demonstrated that HKUST Library was a user-satisfaction leader among Hong Kong academic libraries.

The Library plans to continue these activities for quality assurance and improvement, including another LibQual-based survey in 2011. They will also provide benchmarks for services before and after the implementation of 3-3-4 in 2012. We expect LibQual 2011 and other surveys and studies to similarly lead us to see what we do well, and where we can improve more.

To Enhance Information Access through New Systems Initiatives

The Library plans to further enhance its service infrastructure and implement more powerful tools to help library users retrieve information they need, regardless of format, time, or location.

New and expanded systems projects include:

1. Development and implementation of new information discovery tools;
2. Enabling easier mobile access to library services and resources;
3. Expansion of media streaming and digitization capacity;
4. Enhancement of the storage and retrieval infra-structure of digital libraries systems;
5. Scholarly publications data harvesting project;
6. Expansion of servers virtualization capacity;
7. RFID implementation project;
8. Joint University Libraries (JULAC) Common Access project;
9. Library Catalog enhancement, including single sign-on, SIP2 and patron web services; and
10. Expansion of data/power wiring/capacity for G/F, LG3 and LG4.

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HKUST 20th Anniversary Exhibition – “Our Miracle Continues: A Visual Presentation”

Have you seen this logo on campus? Whether it is a conference, a distinguished lecture or a concert you attend, you are going to see this logo. All these programs are celebratory events organized by various departments and offices for the University’s 20th Anniversary. More programs such as exhibitions, parade, alumni reunion, TV broadcasting, etc. are coming. For details of the yearlong celebration, you may check http://20a.ust.hk.

The Library is also participating in this festive celebration and is planning to share with all of you the precious collection of the University Archives. Since the opening of the University, the Library has been actively collecting materials relating to the development of the University. Besides important documents and publications, thousands of pictures, slides and video recordings are kept in the University Archives. There are memorable items such as commemorative first day covers, MTR stored value tickets and phonecards among those archival documents and boxes. All these will be on display in a special Library exhibition to be launched in May.

The exhibits will not be limited to old items. In fact, it will be a visual journey showing how UST has achieved excellence over the past 20 years — from a rocky barracks site evolving into a picturesque world class university recognized as one of the world’s top 50 universities. The exhibition consists of different elements. There will be more than 30 panels which highlight major events, achievements and the development of the University. A projector will be set up to show videos of distinguished lectures by prominent scientists or social leaders.

Visitors will be welcome to leave a greeting message which will be stored and projected onto a message board via an interactive program. You will also see a replica of the contents of the time capsule which was placed under the foundation stone in 1989 and is scheduled to be opened in 2039.

The Library also gives thanks for the support of our colleagues who have responded to our early appeal (http://library.hkust.edu.hk/archives/20th-appeal.html) and lent us their treasures which will further enrich our exhibition. This exhibition is a collective memory of our community. If you find anything worth sharing, don’t hesitate to contact us at 2358-6784 or email lbarsc@ust.hk.

The slogans of our University evolve from “Hands on the present and eyes for the future 立足現實 著眼未來” to “HKUST Soars 創新科技 振翅高飛” to “Our miracle continues 創 · 新傳奇” This miracle has been made possible by the effort you have contributed in the past 20 years and your further support will make this miracle continue.

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BookTalk – Principle of Relevance

On February 22nd, Ms Stefania Lucchetti spoke about her recent book, The Principle of Relevance, at the 7th in an occasional series of BookTalks given at HKUST Library. She discussed what led her to write this book and gave some useful tips on how business people can organize and respond to an ever-increasing volume of emails, tweets, etc. She highlighted the need for people to choose a focus, and to select and prioritize responses; and also suggested some practices that can help people learn to increase their attention.

After a lively question and answer period, Ms Lucchetti made copies available for sale and signing. A streaming video of the talk will soon be available on the Library’s website at: http://lbcone.ust.hk/booktalk/?p=24

This talk was given in conjunction with the Undergraduate Core Education Office, which in March offered two workshops by Ms Lucchetti: “Ideas to Reality” and “Self Leadership Starts From Owning Your Time”.

A link to the streaming video of the 6th book talk, “Murder on the High Seas, the Joy of Reading” is now available athttp://lbcone.ust.hk/booktalk/?p=25.

The Library plans to continue its BookTalks in the Fall semester. Keep an eye out for upcoming posters and announcements.

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Library Construction Updates

Library Extension

By the time you read this, the Library extension should be almost complete. Shelving has been moved into LG3, a lot of study furniture has been relocated from LG1 and other areas of the building, and Media Resources is about half-way through their move into the extension.

During April, the remaining hoardings will be removed to allow users full access to all floors of the extension. Please be understanding of continuing disruptions, including those caused by the delivery of the remaining pieces of furniture. The Library Computer Lab will also be relocated into the new LG4 Multi-Function Room until the Learning Commons and its Classrooms open this Fall.

As you explore the new extension, please let Library staff know if you see anything which seems wrong, so that we can get it fixed as soon as possible. And remember to spend some time admiring the view from the different areas of the building!

Learning Commons

As you know, some of the construction this term has been for the start of the Learning Commons. The most important elements were the construction of the interior glass wall around the void on LG1, and the creation of a long window wall in the former Media and Computer Lab spaces.

Starting in May, all of the existing LG1 area will be closed off for a few months, and the primary demolition and construction works for the Learning Commons will commence. This is going to be a wonderful facility for the entire campus, and we know that you are looking forward to it as much as we are! If there are no delays, the Learning Commons is scheduled to open for the Fall term.

Of course, there will be more noise during this period – and especially during the early Summer months. Please bear with us and be understanding. This short period of discomfort now will result in a greatly improved study facility for us all.

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Collection Highlight: Albert Einstein

Our Collection Highlights in April is an expanded display of materials about Albert Einstein (1879-1955), renowned scientific genius and physicist.

Einstein was not only a great scientist with revolutionary thoughts, he was also a philosopher, a peace-lover and a musician. While he is hailed as a miraculous genius, his life was not without ups and downs. He failed his first entrance examination to the Institute of Technology in Zurich; his job search was not as successful as he desired; he did not handle his first marriage well and ended up in divorce.

At the time he developed his career, it was a volatile era in Europe; his Jewish identity added another layer of complexity to his life choice and career development. Despite all kinds of difficulties, he successfully established his insightful scientific theories, many of which were not verified until the technology came many years after.

To help you get to know Albert Einstein beyond an icon, this Collection Highlights will feature books about his life, his scientific works, his views on world peace, his legacy on culture, physics and world politics. Accompanying this special Collection Highlights, there will be a poster display of his portraits in the Library Gallery.

This project is supporting the Einstein in Hong Kong event (18th April – 30th August 2011) organized by the University in partnership with the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, swissnex China, Hong Kong Science Museum and the Education Bureau. It includes exhibitions at the Hong Kong Science Museum, an international conference, public lectures, concerts, competitions and a number of interactive activities.

Let’s join together to learn more of this remarkable man and to celebrate his contributions to humanity.

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Collection Movements & Locations

You may have noticed a lot of movement and changes in the Library over the past months. This has been part of the opening of the Library Extension, and preparation for the coming Learning Commons.

Starting in early January, Library staff and student helpers moved ~60,000 volumes of less used books and ~23,000 volumes of bound periodicals that the Library has complete versions in e-journal format. They now form part of the On Call Collection. If you want to get an item in this collection, choose “request” in the Library catalog and staff will fetch it for you within one working day.

While moving the items out, Library staff and student helpers “squeezed” the books on LG3 to make room for books in the P-class, which moved there in February.

We also squeezed the remaining books on LG4. Why? To create space to move all the remaining bound periodicals to LG4 (~60,000). We also finished this in February, and moved all the Bound Periodicals to the back of LG4. The empty shelves from LG1 that held the bound periodicals have now been moved to LG3, mostly in the new extension.

Meanwhile, the entire Media Resources & Microforms area is moving across LG1 into the Library extension. So, if you want to borrow a DVD or CD, watch a movie, listen to music, or use microforms, please visit the new area.

In addition, all the magazines that used to be on the Ground Floor joined the Current Periodicals on LG1 in February. Since then, the Current Periodicals have moved to the other end of LG1, where the extension begins, along with the back issues of newspapers and the newspaper indexes.

Close by is the new location of the Current Newspapers (moved from their old location on the Ground floor). The addition of new newspaper reading tables and soft seating help make the LG1 Extension is a beautiful and convenient location to read the most recent newspapers, magazines, and journals, and have recent months’ issues available without having to go to another floor. And, just a step away, you can find DVDs, CDs, VHS, etc., microforms, the equipment to use them, and Library staff to help you.

Over the summer, books on LG3 and LG4 will be spread out to make use of the shelves that once held the bound periodicals on LG3. By September, 2011 the Library will have a neater and more permanent division of the books class numbers on LG3 and LG4.

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